Statewide awareness drive for diabetes starts today

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) in association with the state Health Department is launching a diabetes awareness programme KADAM (Knowledge-based Actions for Diabetes Awareness Movement) from Wednesday across the state.

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) in association with the state Health Department is launching a diabetes awareness programme KADAM (Knowledge-based Actions for Diabetes Awareness Movement) from Wednesday across the state.

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KADAM is initially being launched as a pilot project in Ahmedabad and will be taken to other parts of the state and will later across the country as the largest awareness drive.

While the state government is endorsing the project,around 100 doctors from different government hospitals will be trained during the RSSDI awareness campaign.

This will be the largest awareness campaign launched till date. We will involve all kinds of media to reach out people. During the annual meet of the RSSDI,which coincides with the project launch,an exhibition will be held on October 7 and October 8 showcasing treatment,therapies and medicines by over 3,500 participants from across the country,including doctors, said Dr Bansi Saboo,promoter for KADAM.

The core team for KADAM is also meeting over 70 industrialists and developers for roping them in for monetary assistance and NGOs will be roped in for implementing the project.

We have submitted a proposal to the state government and we have received assurance for support and endorsement. The banners,posters,advertisement and documentary films prepared as part of the awareness drive will be displayed on the Health Department website of the state government, said Dr Saboo.

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Incidentally,with the second highest incidence of diabetes among states In India. Around 15 per cent of population in Gujarat is suffering from diabetes,followed by Tamil Nadu with 25 per cent (highest in the world).

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Plans are afoot to develop a model diabetes village as part of the awareness campaign. Every alternate person in Gujarat will have diabetes by 2015,according to studies,raising it from the present estimate of one in three. The model village will have all facilities like healthy food zone,medicine and exercise zone,quizzes and educational programmes for diabetes patients.